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Charlotte repeat offender charged with killing man hours after release on bond

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:31:26 -0400

A convicted killer allegedly shot two men, killing one, less than two hours after he was released from a North Carolina jail on bond last week, a stunning timeline that is raising fresh questions about why the repeat violent offender was free in the first place.

David Simpson, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a felon in the July 29 shooting at an east Charlotte apartment complex. A Mecklenburg County judge on Friday ordered that he be held without bond.

Court records obtained by WCNC show Simpson was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail at 12:20 a.m. after posting a $10,000 bond on an unrelated charge of possession of a weapon by a prisoner. Police said the shooting happened less than two hours later, around 1:45 a.m., leaving one man dead and another seriously wounded.

HOUSE DEMOCRAT BLASTED AFTER EARLY RELEASE LAW FREED INMATES LATER CHARGED WITH MURDER

Police said the shooting followed a long-running dispute over a parking space outside the apartment complex. Officers had already been called to the property twice that night after arguments broke out between the victims and residents over where they had parked.

Surveillance video cited in the documents appears to show Simpson outside with his girlfriend when the victims' SUV drove past. Detectives said Simpson went inside, returned carrying what they described as a weighted black bag, and ran toward the victims.

About 10 minutes later, two gunshots can be heard on the video. Roughly 30 seconds after that, Simpson is seen jogging back toward his apartment while handling the bag before driving away, investigators said. Officers recovered two spent 7.62-caliber rifle casings at the scene.

CRAZY BRAWL OVER A PARKING SPOT IN NEW YORK INCLUDES A VICIOUS SKATEBOARD TO THE HEAD

One victim died at the scene. The second made it inside an apartment before collapsing and later underwent surgery.

Court records show Simpson was previously charged with first-degree murder in a 2013 fatal shooting but pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2015, Queen City News reported. He served about five years in prison before being released on parole in 2020.

Since then, he has been arrested several more times, including on multiple charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, WBTV reported.

DEMOCRATIC BOSTON COUNCILOR RIPS 'SOFT-ON-CRIME' POLICIES AFTER SUSPECTED GUNMAN'S VIOLENT PAST REVEALED

He also had pending charges this year for possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting a public officer and misdemeanor larceny, WCNC reported, citing court records.

Charlotte defense attorney Tim Cannady, who is not involved in the case, questioned why Simpson remained free despite his history.

"If you look at his history, it seems like this gentleman has picked up just about every year up to this point some kind of a violent crime," Cannady told WCNC. "So you kind of have to ask the question: Why wasn't he already in jail?"

Former Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari offered a similar criticism.

"We know what these top 1% of repeat offenders are going to do, and for some reason, we just don't have the appetite to take action," Bokhari told WBTV. "It feels like 'Groundhog Day,' to be quite honest."

Simpson refused to leave his jail cell for his first scheduled court appearance Friday morning, delaying the hearing until a judge ordered him to appear later that afternoon.

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His girlfriend, Shakema Scott, has also been charged with accessory after the fact.

Simpson is due back in court on Aug. 21.

NASCAR fans rip social media post for obvious reason, Jeff Gordon's biggest regret & race wife hits the beach

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:28:58 -0400

Monday Morning Pit-Stop is a weekly NASCAR column that runs on OutKick.com and Fox News Digital. If you're looking for a normal NASCAR recap, go check out insufferable ESPN ... assuming they still know NASCAR exists.

First Monday of August and we don't even have a NASCAR race to complain about today. What are we supposed to do now?

Feels weird, doesn't it? The NASCAR Cup Series season is the longest in all of sports, with — by far — the fewest down time. The fellas get two(ish) off weeks a season, give or take, and that's about it from February through October.

So when the series is off, it's a bit of a shock to the system. It just doesn't happen. Hand up, I actually forgot it was an off week yesterday afternoon and started reflexively looking for the race at around 3 p.m.

I couldn't take anymore of the trans talk from the WNBA, and I needed something to put on while I yanked weeds from the back deck.

NASCAR SENDS LOUD MESSAGE TO AMERICA-HATING LOSERS, BLACK DRIVER'S CONTROVERSIAL PAINT SCHEME & DRUNK JIMMIE!

Crickets. Nothing. Dead air.

You never know what you have have till it's gone.

Anyway, this award-winning (allegedly) column doesn't take weeks off, so we're here, ready to turn the page toward the rest of the season. Daytona is just a few weeks away, you know.

How should we fill the space? How about this social media post from NASCAR that absolutely blew up the internet over the weekend? Fans were quick to call them out, and I don't blame them.

What else? I've got Jeff Gordon giving us a rare insight into his relationship with the late, great Dale Earnhardt, Samantha Busch reminiscing on some early days with Kyle, and McCall Gaulding spending the off week in Costa Rica.

Sound good? Good!

Four tires, enough fuel to get us to Iowa, and maybe a few more off weeks for the fellas throughout the year, because two(ish) ain't enough ... Monday Morning Pit-Stop — the 'NASCAR Finally Goes Viral, But The Double Standard Is Glaring' edition — is LIVE!

NASCAR post goes viral, but there's an obvious issue

There it is! That's the post that set the internet ablaze this weekend.

Good for NASCAR for being part of the news cycle on an off weekend, though. Credit where it's due. Bad PR is still PR.

Just ask the WNBA.

That above moment is from a decade ago (time flies!), when Cole Custer sprinted across the track and attacked John Hunter Nemechek after the two wrecked each other at the finish. I can't believe it's been 10 years since that moment.

I'm tell you, folks, you blink and a decade has passed. Lordy.

Anyway, it was an iconic moment in NASCAR history (not really), and, for some reason, the interns who run the main account posted it Friday. Naturally, it went mega-viral to the tune of nearly 6 million views, with big-time personalities such as Pat McAfee even reposting it:

Again, PR is PR, and when you get Pat McAfee to repost a 10-year-old truck race on a random Saturday in August, you're doing something right.

That being said, hardcore fans were QUICK to point out the double standard by NASCAR — and it's one that I've pointed out for years.

NASCAR routinely promotes this stuff on its social media accounts. Remember the infamous Kyle Busch-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fight a few years back? The social media team(s) gobbled that up ... for days! They milked it for all it was worth.

At the same time, though, the sanctioning body will also A) fine drivers for this behavior, B) dock them points, C) sometimes suspend them, and D) discourage it entirely on the track.

You can't have your cake and eat it, too!

Jeff Gordon's biggest regret with Dale Earnhardt

I could go on and on. Seriously, NASCAR fans are nothing if not consistent in their bitching and moaning.

Look, I get it. It seems odd to promote this stuff off the track, but actively discourage it on the track and after races. That being said, the social media team and the actual folks who run the sport are in two very separate buildings. Hell, I'm on even sure they're on the same property!

Two different bottom lines, and two very different goals. I see it here at OutKick all the time. The social team's job is to create content, and clicks, and engagement. They don't care about the Xs and Os of stuff and how the sausage is made. They care about the impressions.

That being said, I also think NASCAR should just let this stuff happen and leave it alone. Let the boys police themselves — on and off the track.

When was the last time a NASCAR social media post got 6 million pageviews? Probably something to consider.

OK, let's move this class along ...

Speaking of the good old days of NASCAR — when men were MEN! — let's check in with Jeff Gordon and ... Dale Earnhardt?

Samantha Busch, Indy & McCall

"If I had time with him again before we lost him, what would I have said to him? What would I have asked him?" Gordon said last week on the 'Bussin With The Boys' podcast.

"I definitely would've said, 'Hey, '95 when we were going for the championship, how much of that was just total bulls–t? It was getting under my skin. I would do an interview, and they go, 'We were just talking to Dale, and Dale said Rainbow Warrior, Wonder Boy, and all these nicknames he had for me.

"'He can't win the championship, what are they going to do, serve milk at the championship? I didn't want to get involved in that. And I kinda wish I had a little bit more, because I do think he was doing it because he knew it was working.

"Not just to get under my skin, but it was working for the media, it was working for NASCAR, and the growth and the fans.

"I think that's what I'd love to know is, how much of that was manufactured?"

Dale, by the way, would've probably loved NASCAR's post from over the weekend. Like Jeff said, Dale knew what he was doing. He knew what worked, and what played on TV, and what lit fires. He knew how to get eyeballs to the screen, and, more importantly, how to keep 'em there.

The Dale Earnhardt-Jeff Gordon rivalry from the late 1990s was peak NASCAR, in my opinion. That's when the sport was exploding. When it was bigger than the NFL, if you believe that.

And yes, Jeff should've engaged a little more. Duh. Always engage, folks.

Hope every driver in the garage reads that today.

OK, two more quickies on the way out. First? Samantha Busch has been slowly returning to social media since Kyle's death two months ago (goodness), and it's a gut-punch of a post every single time.

After last week's race at Indy, Samantha revealed that's where her and Kyle first met nearly 20 years ago:

"These photos were taken later that year in 2007, and looking at them now, I see two kids completely caught up in the excitement of falling in love, with absolutely no idea what was ahead of us," she wrote. "We grew up together. We built a life together. Through every season, every challenge, and every dream, we just kept choosing each other.

"I look at these pictures and wish I could tell that 21-year-old girl to soak up every single second. She never could have imagined how beautiful our life would become, or that one day she’d be wishing for just one more day with you."

Goodness gracious. Like I said, just a punch straight to the gut. I can't believe it's been two months. Wonder what Kyle would've thought of NASCAR's post over the weekend?

OK, that's it for today. Good work, everyone. We made it through the final NASCAR off week of 2026.

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Zane Smith's wife, McCall Gaulding, checks in from Costa Rica, and takes us home.

See you at Iowa.

Once-hidden coastal town facing disruption as social media influencers transform local life

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:00:30 -0400

A battle is brewing on a tiny luxury island 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, according to many reports.

Gorgeous scenes of Nantucket have been nearly impossible to miss lately on TikTok and Instagram, with images of weathered-gray cottages, colorful hydrangeas and pristine beaches populating social media platforms.

Yet the island has seen tourism explode, according to some residents and longtime visitors — and locals say they've become inundated by visitors, crowds and noise.

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"[Nantucket] has become something it wasn't before," a 23-year-old lifetime Nantucket resident, who asked for anonymity, told Fox News Digital. "It was kind of like a rustic New England vacation spot, and it's been changing for the last 20 years."

The person added, "It's transforming into something that [residents] don't recognize, and it makes them very upset."

With no bridge to the island, visitors cannot drive or take a train. Nantucket is accessible exclusively by air and sea, requiring travelers to arrive by ferry or plane, per the Town of Nantucket.

For decades, that lack of accessibility kept crowds in check.

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"You either have to fly or take the ferry," J.Q. Louise, a Boston-based travel influencer who has visited Nantucket several times, told Fox News Digital.

"I think that's what's kept it exclusive for so many years," she said.

That appears to be changing, as the island typically draws an estimated 2 million visitors annually, according to the Nantucket Current.

Recent complaints about influencers reached a fever pitch when a longtime shop owner hung a sign saying, "No Influencers."

Store owner John Sylvia posted the sign at Four Winds Craft Guild, his Nantucket antiques and artisan shop.

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"I feel sometimes my store is used as someone’s background, a stage," Sylvia told The New York Times.

"I don't have this hatred toward influencers," he clarified. "It was more of a joke. It is a problem we should look at as a society."

Sylvia's partner, Jessica Jenkins, told the outlet she feels deluged by "people creating videos on corners of themselves sipping an iced coffee and looking over their shoulder and doing a shoe kick or whatever."

Fox News Digital reached out to Four Winds Craft Guild for further comment.

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Content creators such as Paige Lorenze are defending themselves.

"If you call yourself a feminist but proudly put up a 'No Influencers' sign, it’s worth asking who you are attempting to delegitimize, and why," Lorenze, who owns a boutique near Four Winds Craft Guild, commented on a now-deleted Instagram post.

"I have no issue with [John Sylvia's] shop, and I hope people keep walking in and supporting island craftspeople," Lorenze told The Cut.

"I just think Nantucket’s story is more generous than that sign."

Fox News Digital reached out to Paige Lorenze for further comment.

In the spring, the Siasconset Civic Association, a nonprofit community advocacy organization, proposed recommendations to curb overcrowding. The Nantucket Select Board designated specific visiting hours on the footpath for July and August.

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"Bluff docents" — called rangers in an earlier version of the proposal — were approved to keep an eye on activity, according to Nantucket Current.

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The Sconset Civic Association also proposed turnstiles or gates at entrances, but those weren't approved.

A Reddit post on the Nantucket debate generated hundreds of comments.

"My family has a house there, and trust me when I say the entire island has no need for influencers or to go viral," a Reddit user said.

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The "island gets so crowded during the summer that even cottage industries have popped up to handle the crowds," the commenter added.

A Connecticut resident who has spent summers in Sconset for 38 years also said the island feels different.

"The crowds are flashy, but they have more to spend," the person, who asked to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital.

J.Q. Louise believes the tiny size of the island — it's about 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide — magnifies the problem.

"It kind of felt like a hidden gem, and it definitely isn't hidden anymore," she said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the town of Nantucket, Siasconset Civic Association and Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce for comment.

Ashley J. DiMella and Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

Boy George stands firm with pro-Israel song as faith guides him through record label split and West End exit

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:19:54 -0400

Boy George split from his record label and dropped out of the London production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" just days after the release of his AI-generated, pro-Israel anthem, "We Will Dance Again."

George, 65, credited his faith for keeping him strong and claimed he was advised to "pipe down" as backlash mounted against the singer for releasing the reggae song defending Israel's military action.

"In Buddhism we understand that every action comes with a consequence," George posted on X. "Due to my decision to stand up for my Jewish friends I am losing a few people from my life."

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"Today I parted company with Tony Pontius who has run my record label BGP for a number of years," he continued. "I wanted to release 'We Will Dance Again' but he was unequivocal and said 'I want nothing to do with this song' and I responded 'ok, we are done'.

"When someone is gutless it really does not hurt to say goodbye. My faith in humanity will not diminish, and the truth will always win. I will release it!"

Representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Last week, George released a three-minute clip which was captioned "#Shalom," and has since amassed more than 5 million views on X.

The song, which is currently unavailable on streaming services, includes the lyrics: "You say genocide, I say war / When you’re attacked that’s what the army’s for," and "You condemn, with selective memory/ Musicians holding flags, mouthing like sheep/Propaganda fueled by the Internet feels so weak."

His management confirmed Thursday that George also dropped out of the West End production last week, where he was set to play King Herod over and was scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 3.

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"After careful consideration, I have decided, in my capacity as Boy George’s manager, that he will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium," Paul Kemsley shared Thursday on Instagram.

"The decision has been made with the utmost respect for the producers, the creative team and the entire company. We are grateful for the professionalism and understanding they have shown throughout and sincerely wish everyone involved every success with the production."

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Kemsley offered fans who purchased tickets their "sincere apologies for the disappointment this decision may cause, and we are deeply grateful for their continued loyalty and support."

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"George has never been afraid to stand by his personal convictions, and I have always respected him for that," Kemsley noted. "Equally, I believe it is my responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of my artist while also showing respect to others."

He added, "In this instance, I felt it was right to step aside, allowing the production to remain the focus, while ensuring everyone involved can move forward with mutual respect and goodwill."

Top Trump ally warns super PAC bankrolled by Dem billionaire is meddling in his GOP primary

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:00:19 -0400

A clean energy super PAC bankrolled by a left-wing billionaire is pouring millions into an effort to unseat Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., as he wages a bid for re-election in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.

The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition super PAC had spent roughly $1.3 million on opposing Ogles and supporting his Republican challenger, Charlie Hatcher, Tennessee’s former commissioner of agriculture, and recently bought another $700,000 worth of ads.

The group has raised $6.7 million this year, making Ogles a sizable portion of their spending this cycle. A Fox News Digital review of FEC filings discovered that the super PAC is bankrolled by Chris Larsen, the California-based billionaire chairman of Ripple, which is described on its website as the "leading financial technology company that offers crypto solutions for businesses."

Larsen has donated $6 million to the super PAC since Feb. 2026. His latest $5 million donation to Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC is his second-largest single donation after donating $5,444,975 to Future Forward PAC in 2024 to support Kamala Harris's failed presidential campaign.

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Larsen has also donated over $1 million to the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, over $1 million between the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and over $300,000 supporting Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., among other six-figure donations to top Democratic campaigns and PACs.

The way that Ogles sees it, it’s an attempt to show Republicans what happens when lawmakers attempt to scale back government investments in renewable energy sources.

"When you have a group spending roughly $2 million in a Republican primary, that tells you how much money they're making off of government subsidies, and they're upset that the government welfare has been taken away from them," Ogles told Fox News Digital in an interview.

Larsen, who is an angel investor and climate philanthropist, is making "climate change his top priority," according to an online bio.

"He founded the Larsen Lam Climate Change Foundation (since renamed as the Clean Break Fund) in 2021 to guide his climate philanthropy, and is an active early investor in numerous climate tech companies, as well as several prominent climate funds," the bio continues. "His philanthropic priorities include the climate-driven home insurance crisis, making climate change a bipartisan issue once again, and carbon dioxide removal, among many other projects."

Ogles, a member of the fiscally minded House Freedom Caucus, has been one of the most outspoken Republicans calling for a reversal of energy initiatives passed under President Joe Biden. Among them, Ogles has argued against clean energy subsidies in Biden’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

But more than that, Ogles thinks it’s his proximity to Trump that has made him a target.

"It's because I'm close to the president. It is because I am outspoken. And quite frankly, it is because I speak plainly on these issues," Ogles said.

Trump, who has endorsed Ogles, reaffirmed his support for the conservative firebrand ahead of the primary.

"Andy will be really enshrined as one of the best congressmen that you’ll ever see. He’s just fantastic," Trump said. "Andy has always been there when we needed him and when I needed him. He’s been a great help. He’s been a source of inspiration to a lot of people in Congress."

Figures who have donated to Invest in Tomorrow framed energy policy as an issue with electoral consequences, hinting that Ogles is on the wrong side of the issue.

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"Our campaign is here to show that politicians who oppose clean energy do so at their own political peril. Andy Ogles is next," Tom Matzzie, the PAC’s executive chairman, said in a statement to Axios.

Matzzie is also CEO of a solar energy company, CleanChoice Energy.

When asked about the comment, Ogles said he doesn’t think his views are at odds with the way voters see energy and has characterized the opposition spending as an attempt to buy a seat energy groups can control.

"If trying to build an energy sector that is self-reliant, because it's a national security issue, makes me an extremist, then so be it."

Ogles said he stands by his all-of-the-above energy stance. In his view, it’s not the government’s job to pick winners and losers in the energy market — especially in light of the country’s overspending challenges.

"I'm not against solar. We have a farm. I've got a big shop. You know, I've contemplated putting solar on my shop to help to run my farm. But I don't want a government subsidy to make it work. I don't need a government subsidy to pay for it," Ogles said.

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"Look, at the end of the day, you know, I voted for conservative policies and that's what America wants right now. We're barreling towards $40 trillion in debt," he added.

The Tennessee primary will take place on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Idaho In-N-Out Burger shooting motive still a mystery as armed citizen speaks out

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:02:30 -0400

Police are still working to determine why a 24-year-old gunman opened fire at a crowded In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, killing three people and wounding seven others before taking his own life after taking fire from a bystander and an off-duty Idaho state trooper.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday that investigators were confident Chad Williams acted alone in Saturday's attack, but detectives had not yet established a motive or fully traced his movements before the shooting.

"We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties," Hicks said of an armed citizen and officer who returned fire. "We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen, and their heroic action to stop this incident."

Police have not publicly identified the trooper or the bystander, but the Idaho Statesman detailed the heroics of Jordan Salinas, 35, of Kimberly, Idaho, strapped by the shoulder with a FN Five-seveN semi-automatic pistol fitted with a suppressor.

OFF-DUTY TROOPER AND ARMED CITIZEN HAILED AS HEROES AFTER RETURNING FIRE ON IN-N-OUT GUNMAN

Salinas, a reported "healthcare worker, the full-time caregiver of his wheelchair-bound brother," told the paper he took up gun training after a 2021 shooting – never even aiming a gun at an animal – saying he was able to "observe," "orient" and "decide" that "OK, this is the guy," he said before being resolute to "act."

The gunman, he said, was shocked by the armed response.

"He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways," Salinas, whose girlfriend at the restaurant was stuck in Williams fire, told the Statesman, adding he felt "no fear."

"There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it," he added, only standing down when he said police took over the scene, thinking, "OK, my part is done."

The shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the restaurant, according to police.

MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING AT IDAHO IN-N-OUT RESTAURANT, SUSPECT DEAD

"These people are true heroes in our community," Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said. "They diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives."

Hicks said Williams' family was cooperating with authorities. Detectives were examining his activities before the shooting and trying to determine whether any victims had been deliberately targeted.

Authorities said seven people were injured. Two remained in critical condition Sunday, three were listed as stable and two had been treated and released from a hospital.

Officials said both fired at Williams during what authorities described as a chaotic and fast-moving attack, diverting his attention from the restaurant as customers and employees fled.

IN-N-OUT PRESIDENT SAYS ‘HEART IS BROKEN’ AFTER EMPLOYEE, CUSTOMERS KILLED IN IDAHO SHOOTING

Witness Lane Koehn, 34, said he was stopped at a traffic light near the restaurant when he saw a man carrying an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. Another man armed with a handgun then began firing at the shooter, Koehn told The Associated Press.

Koehn said he later saw an In-N-Out employee drag a wounded co-worker across the parking lot. The injured worker had been shot in the chest, he said.

"She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it," Koehn said.

One of the three people killed was an In-N-Out employee, company owner Lynsi Snyder confirmed in a statement. Officials had not released the victims’ identities as they worked to notify relatives.

"My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed," Snyder said. "We lost one of our beautiful associates tonight."

"In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season."

Snyder said the employee had been caring for customers when she was killed. The company was working with police and offering support to victims, employees and their families.

The shooting erupted Saturday afternoon at the recently opened restaurant in a busy commercial area where hundreds of shoppers, diners and employees were believed to have been present.

Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro said she and her mother were waiting in the drive-thru when they saw workers running from the restaurant and people fleeing across the road.

"At first," Dodaro said, she thought there might have been a fire. A person directing traffic then warned them that there was an active shooter.

"People were running out crying and screaming," she said. "It was very scary."

Nayeli Rodriguez, who was inside the restaurant with her daughters, said an employee told customers to get down after gunfire was heard near the kitchen. An older man tried to shield Rodriguez and her children before they escaped.

"We were trying to get as far as we could, and some angels let us in their car," Rodriguez said.

A local taxi company said one of its drivers, Terry Dudley, was shot twice in the back while charging his Tesla near the restaurant. North Star Taxi said Dudley survived but faced "a very long road ahead."

Salinas posted a humble Facebook message urging focus on "victims, their families, and everyone affected."

"The last 24 hours have been overwhelming," the message posted late Sunday night read. "I want to sincerely thank my family, friends, and everyone who has reached out with messages, prayers, and support. I haven't been able to respond to everyone yet, but please know I've seen your messages, and they mean more to me than I can put into words.

"In the coming days, I'll share a more complete account of what happened, to the best of my recollection, when I'm able.

"For now, my heart remains with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by yesterday's tragedy. Thank you for continuing to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and thank you all for the incredible support you've shown me and my family."

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The FBI asked members of the public to submit photographs and video recorded during the attack. Twin Falls police also urged anyone who witnessed the shooting or had relevant information to contact investigators.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jadeveon Clowney's career filled with high expectations is now supposed to deliver a Houston Texans Super Bowl

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:01:25 -0400

Jadeveon Clowney is back with the Houston Texans, an addition that comes with much attention, and the expectation of fielding the NFL's best defense. and Super Bowl talk.

But, please, pump the brakes.

Because if there's one thing Clowney's 12-year career has taught us, it is that high expectations have too often gone unrealized.

The one-time No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft spent this offseason as a valued free agent until he agreed on Sunday to rejoin the Texans, the team that originally drafted him in 2014.

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And, true to form, Clowney arrives with commotion and fanfare for great things ahead. Fans are aflutter that this familiar name is aboard for the coming season and Clowney is doing nothing to minimize the excitement by talking about a Super Bowl.

"I can help contribute and (we have) a good chance to chase a Super Bowl," Clowney told KPRC 2 Houston.

In another interview Clowney said he's learned to lead during his career and knows what it takes to get to a Super Bowl.

So, lotta high expectations, y'all.

Except this is where the Clowney reality begs caution. Because Clowney has never won a Super Bowl. He's never played in a Super Bowl.

And while that doesn't prevent him from helping the Texans in 2026, he won't be leading the charge. He'll be supporting starters Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter who were both top 10 in sacks last season.

NFL GREAT AARON DONALD MAY COME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO JOIN MYLES GARRETT ON RAMS' DEFENSE, EX-TEAMMATE SAYS

Clowney is a piece to the puzzle on a defense that was No. 2 in fewest points allowed last season behind the Seattle Seahawks. He's not the signature piece.

"We're continuously trying to build depth, especially in that room because of the way we play and stylistically what we ask those guys to do," said Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke. "It is important. It's important for us to be able to keep guys fresh and to keep Danielle and Will and those guys throwing fastballs through the whole game. The depth piece is an important piece for us."

The Texans and Clowney agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million. The deal includes incentives that could push that money higher.

But this isn't about money for Clowney, who had been negotiating with multiple teams including the Cleveland Browns.

Clowney lives in Houston, so it makes sense for him. And he loves the idea of playing for Texans coach DeMeco Ryans.

"I was looking forward to playing for DeMeco," Clowney said. "Pretty exciting coach to play for. I reached out to him and told him I wanted to play for him,

"It was a family decision. It wasn't about the money, it was about chasing my legacy and chasing a Super Bowl. I've got a lot of game left and I want to contribute."

Clowney returns to Houston, in part, because of its head coach. He was traded by Houston just prior to the 2019 season, in part, because he feuded with coach Bill O'Brien.

Clowney was picked with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft to be perhaps an all-timer and definitely a perennial Pro Bowler. But that's not what happened.

He earned three Pro Bowl invites, the last one coming in 2018. He didn't turn into the unstoppable sack-machine the Texans originally hoped, indeed, he's a more consistent run-stopper than pass rusher.

Clowney wasn't even the best pass rusher or defensive lineman in 2014 because Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald were selected later in that fateful draft. Clowney has never delivered a double-digit sack season.

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So the player selected to be a franchise cornerstone has bounced around with seven teams.

This all, of course, serves as a sober caution: High expectations and Jadeveon Clowney have been constant companions in the NFL and the current Super Bowl talk in Houston continues that.

But the history is the history.

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Israeli MLS striker Dor Turgeman responds to alleged 'Death to Israel' chants in Montreal by scoring goal

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:47:07 -0400

Israeli forward Dor Turgeman made sure to celebrate exactly as he saw fit after scoring a goal for his New England Revolution squad during a road contest against CF Montreal on Saturday.

According to reports across social media, some Montreal supporters allegedly chanted "Death to Israel" and "Free Palestine" toward Turgeman during the match.

FAN GIVEN SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE FOR RACIALLY ABUSING MARCUS RASHFORD

After scoring a well-executed goal to put the Revolution up 2-0 in the 36th minute, Turgeman jogged across the front of the goal in front of Montreal supporters with his hand up to his ear. Montreal's goalkeeper, Sebastian Breza, apparently had enough of Turgeman's celebration, and shoved him to the turf, which sparked a back-and-forth between a number of players.

The video MLS shared on X of the goal did not show Breza shoving Turgeman, although the moment can be seen in another clip here.

Amid his goal celebration, i24 News reported that witnesses inside the stadium said beer bottles were thrown at Turgeman. Breza received a yellow card for his shove on the striker following the first-half goal in the match that ultimately ended 2-2.

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On Sunday, CF Montreal released a statement about the allegations of discriminatory comments directed at Turgeman during the match.

"CF Montreal is aware of allegations regarding discriminatory comments directed at a player by fans during last night's match against the New England Revolution," the statement began.

"The Club does not tolerate discrimination, or hateful behavior of any kind. We take these allegations very seriously and are currently reviewing the matter. We are in contact with MLS and the New England Revolution as we work to establish all the facts and take the necessary actions."

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MLS has not released a statement regarding the alleged incident at the time of this writing.

The 22-year-old Turgeman was born in Ashdod, Israel, and played for the local club during the majority of his youth career before joining the Revolution in 2025. He has represented Israel on the international stage at both the youth level and on the senior team, scoring two goals in nine appearances in 2025.

Former college football standout Levi Wyatt dead at 23

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:36:09 -0400

Levi Wyatt, a former college football standout who played for the Jackson State Tigers and McNeese State Cowboys, has died. He was 23.

Jackson State mourned the loss of the former cornerback on Saturday. Wyatt was a 2024 Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team selection before he joined the Tigers. He had 12 tackles and four pass breakups in 2025.

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"The bond of this brotherhood does not end when the game clock expires," Jackson State said in a statement. "Today, we mourn the loss of our brother, Levi Wyatt. His memory will forever live within the halls of Jackson State football and in the hearts of everyone who shared this journey with him.

"We ask the Tiger Nation to join us in lifting his family and loved ones in prayer during this incredibly difficult time. Rest easy, Tiger."

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Wyatt was killed in a car crash in Mississippi early Saturday, according to state officials.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said officers in Jackson responded to a report of a car crash just after midnight local time, according to WLBT-TV. Responding officers located two vehicles that sustained damage at the scene.

A Chevrolet Camaro reportedly struck a utility pole.

The Hinds County coroner identified Wyatt as one of the victims of the crash, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, WLBT-TV reported.

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Mississippi Highway Patrol was reportedly investigating the incident.

Todd Blanche inches closer to Senate confirmation after agreement with GOP holdouts and more top headlines

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:20:54 -0400

Good morning and welcome to Fox News’ morning newsletter, Fox News First. And here's what you need to know to start your day ...

TOP 3

1. Todd Blanche inches closer to Senate confirmation

2. Trump's war on 'woke' ideology reaches the Smithsonian

3. Sheriff breaks silence on Nancy Guthrie investigation

MAJOR HEADLINES

ROUTE REPEAT — Lindsay Clancy jurors visit crime scene in Karen Read-style move to test timeline: Retired judge. Continue reading …

HEROES RESPONDED — Off-duty trooper and armed citizen hailed as heroes after returning fire on In-N-Out gunman. Continue reading …

DIGITAL HEIST — Coldcard wallet attack drains up to $89M in Bitcoin from 1,200+ addresses. Continue reading …

TENSE TALKS — Trump cancels Iran strikes at countries' request ahead of Monday negotiations. Continue reading …

MOUND MAYHEM — Gavin Williams' perfect game bid leads to benches-clearing altercation between Guardians and Diamondbacks. Continue reading …

POLITICS

BREAKING BARRIERS — Trailblazing former Republican Rep Kay Granger dies at 83: 'Broke barriers'. Continue reading …

SUNDAY COLLISION — Ohio Rep Marcy Kaptur hospitalized after hit-and-run crash on way to church. Continue reading …

UNDER THE LIGHTS — First showdown in race for Lindsey Graham's Senate seat puts GOP hopefuls to the test. Continue reading …

BREAKING THROUGH — New California law could help crack thousands of unsolved missing persons cases. Continue reading …

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MEDIA

CAUGHT RED-HANDED — Mississippi professor reveals hidden way he used to expose AI cheating in viral video. Continue reading …

PARTY FRACTURE — Joe Manchin says he would never support a socialist candidate, warns against 'crazy' positions. Continue reading …

CIVIL WAR WITHIN — James Carville vows to abandon Democratic Party if far-left Hasan Piker becomes leading voice. Continue reading …

DIVIDED DEMS — Bernie Sanders blasts Fetterman as 'way out of touch' with Americans after Graham Platner rebuke. Continue reading …

OPINION

JASON CHAFFETZ — Democrats desperately need Nancy Pelosi to take charge. Continue reading …

WILL THIBEAU — Our enemies found a weakness in essential technology. We must fix it … fast. Continue reading …

IN OTHER NEWS

GUT CHECK TIME — What to order instead: Lettuce-free meals at McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell and more. Continue reading …

REBOOT TIME — MySpace seeking a revival as its owners plan comeback effort for once-popular social media platform. Continue reading …

FUTURE OF FLIGHT — NASA opens new wind tunnel facility in Virginia. Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on popular personalities and retro revivals. Take the quiz here …

LISTEN

Tune in as Dr. Anthony Fauci’s explosive appearance on Capitol Hill is still reverberating in Washington. Check it out ...

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What’s it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…

Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We’ll see you in your inbox first thing Tuesday.

WWE star Brie Bella 'in a lot of pain' following injury at SummerSlam, sister says

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:12:54 -0400

Brie Bella was noticeably grabbing her right shoulder during a six-woman tag team match at WWE SummerSlam on Saturday night as she appeared to suffer an injury.

Bella was seated next to the steel steps when her opponent, Jacy Jayne, hit a running senton on her. At that moment, she began to clutch her shoulder and kept rubbing it during the rest of the match with her sister Nikki Bella and Paige.

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Nikki Bella attacked Paige at the end of the match, signaling a villainous turn to their characters. She provided an update on Brie in an interview on Busted Open Radio on Sunday before the second night of the premium live event began.

"She’s doing OK. She is in a lot of pain," Nikki Bella said of Brie. "They are still determining what’s going on. Brie will share that whenever. … I’ve been told to ‘zip it.’"

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque told reporters after Night 1 that the injury "seems pretty bad."

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"Yeah, she’s injured," he said. "I don’t have an update yet. We’ve taken her. She was here, got some treatment done here, has been taken to the hospital to get some scans done. Don’t have a clean answer on it yet.

"I know she hurt her shoulder. It seems pretty bad, but I don’t have an answer yet. Hopefully we will soon. Hopefully, it won’t be as bad as we thought it was, but that’s the nature of the game."

The Bellas and Paige teamed up against Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley. Jayne scored the pinfall over Paige to give her team the win.

Brie Bella made her stunning return to WWE at the Royal Rumble in January and then was set to team with her sister at WrestleMania 42 before Nikki Bella suffered her own injury.

Instead, she teamed with Paige as they won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.

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Now, it’s unclear when Brie Bella will be able to return to the ring.

Forget the gym: A 30-second test may be one of the best indicators of longevity

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:00:51 -0400

As more Americans prioritize staying mobile and independent as they age, experts are pointing to a surprisingly simple measure of health.

The number of times a person can rise from a chair in 30 seconds can be an indicator of lower-body strength, which is closely linked to mobility, functional fitness and healthy aging.

Interest in the test appears to be growing, with online searches for "sit to stand exercise" up 287% over the past three months, according to Google Trends analysis.

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The CDC's Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) program states that the purpose of the 30-second chair stand test is to assess leg strength and endurance, with below-average scores indicating increased fall risk.

Bruno Pontes, an ACSM- and AFAA-certified personal trainer at Muscle Booster in California, shared what the sit-to-stand test actually measures and why experts consider it a strong indicator of fitness.

Nick Schofield, a tactical athlete physical coach in the U.K., also provided a video demonstration of the exercise for Muscle Booster.

"What makes this test a great measure of fitness is that it simulates the everyday movement of getting up and down from a chair, compared to machine-based strength tests, which instead isolate muscle groups," Pontes told Fox News Digital.

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"The sit-to-stand test is an excellent indicator of lower-body strength, muscular endurance, balance and mobility," Pontes said. It is also commonly used by healthcare professionals to help assess fall risk in older adults.

While there are several iterations of the sit-to-stand test, the 30-second chair stand test is the go-to exercise endorsed by public health organizations like the CDC, the expert noted.

How to perform the test at home

The sit-to-stand test is easy to perform at home, Pontes said, as the only thing needed is a sturdy chair. He outlined the following steps.

Position a sturdy chair against a wall to prevent it from moving.
Start by sitting upright in the chair with the feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart, with arms crossed over the chest.
Once the timer starts, rise to a full standing position with straight knees and hips before sitting back down again.
Repeat as many full stands as possible in 30 seconds and record your total.

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"As an important note, anyone with significant balance problems, recent surgery, severe joint pain or cardiovascular concerns should consult a healthcare professional before performing the test," Pontes advised.

What counts as a ‘good’ score?

What is seen as a "good" score varies from person to person and is dependent on a number of factors, including age and gender, Pontes said.

"However, the following benchmarks are good to aim for to measure your lower-body strength," he added. These benchmarks are based on how many full stands can be completed in 30 seconds from a standard-height chair.

Ages 60–64: Men: 14 or more | Women: 12 or more
Ages 65–69: Men: 12 or more | Women: 11 or more
Ages 70–74: Men: 12 or more | Women: 10 or more
Ages 75–79: Men: 11 or more | Women: 10 or more
Ages 80–84: Men: 10 or more | Women: 9 or more
Ages 85–89: Men: 8 or more | Women: 8 or more
Ages 90+: Men: 7 or more | Women: 4 or more

"It is important not to obsess over the number you achieve — the focus should be on the ease of movement and making daily functions easier," Pontes said.

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"If rising from a chair becomes easier over time, that's a great indicator that lower-body strength and functional fitness are improving," he went on. "If you fall below the target number, don’t worry — there are many different exercises you can implement into your daily routine to help strengthen your lower body."

Top exercises to help build strength, balance and endurance

The following exercises can be executed at home to help improve your sit-to-stand performance, according to Pontes. These moves help to build strength in the quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves.

Squats

"Squats help to build strength primarily in the quadriceps and glutes, while also engaging the hamstrings and core," Pontes told Fox News Digital. "They are also a great exercise for seniors, as they place limited amounts of stress on your hips and spine."

Squats can be performed by standing with the feet shoulder-width apart and lowering the hips back and down into a seated position. Be sure to keep the back straight and chest up.

Lunges

"These low-impact exercises can help identify any strength imbalances that may be affecting mobility and stability, as each leg works independently," Pontes said.

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To perform a lunge, stand with the feet shoulder-width apart and step forward with one leg, creating a right angle at the knee. The front knee should sit directly over the ankle/heel and should not extend past the toes.

Hold this position briefly before pushing through the heel on the front foot to engage the glutes and return to the starting position, then repeat for the other leg.

Calf raises

"Calf raises help keep the calf muscles strong and functional as we age, to support everyday, functional movements," Pontes said.

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Stand with the feet hip-width apart, keeping an upright posture and engaging the core. Slowly push through the balls of the feet to raise the heels off the floor as high as possible. Pause briefly at the top, then lower the heels back down to the ground with control.

Importance of leg strength for longevity

As people age, they become more susceptible to sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength over time, according to Pontes. This can make routine activities more difficult and increases the risk of injury.

"Lower-body strength plays a vital role in maintaining independence because it supports many of the movements we rely on every day, such as climbing stairs, getting up from chairs, carrying groceries and walking confidently," the fitness expert noted.

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Maintaining strength in the legs and hips helps to preserve mobility and lower the risk of falls and injury, Pontes said.

"This mobility helps enable people to remain active and keep moving freely through their later years."

Attorney who defended DC sniper says Kohberger faces 'monumental uphill battle' undoing guilty plea

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:00:48 -0400

Bryan Kohberger faces a "monumental uphill battle" in his effort to withdraw his guilty plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students, according to an attorney who represented D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo and once helped another client successfully withdraw a guilty plea before winning an acquittal.

Mark Petrovich, who represented Malvo in post-conviction proceedings in Virginia and has decades of criminal defense experience, told Fox News Digital that defendants rarely succeed in withdrawing guilty pleas after sentencing, even in cases involving claims that they were unaware of potentially exculpatory evidence before entering the plea.

He cautioned against drawing direct comparisons between Malvo's post-conviction litigation and Kohberger's effort to withdraw his guilty plea. Malvo's appeals stemmed from changes in constitutional law governing juvenile sentencing, while Kohberger is attempting to undo a plea agreement he entered as an adult after avoiding the death penalty.

KAYLEE GONCALVES' MOTHER SAYS FAMILY READY FOR TRIAL AFTER BRYAN KOHBERGER SEEKS TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEA

"It's a monumental uphill battle," Petrovich said. "First of all, getting the judge to allow you to withdraw the plea, and then second of all to winning any new proceeding, because there's a lot against you."

Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. He was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after accepting a plea agreement that spared him from the death penalty.

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In recent court filings, Kohberger claimed he was pressured into accepting the plea agreement, did not fully understand potentially exculpatory evidence before pleading guilty and was misled about the conditions he would face while incarcerated.

IDAHO MURDERS: NEW BOOK ON KOHBERGER REVEALS PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN EVIDENCE, CLAIMS SHEATH COULD BE INADMISSIBLE

He contends those factors undermined the voluntariness of his decision to plead guilty.

Petrovich said he once represented a client who sought to withdraw a guilty plea before sentencing. A judge granted the request, the case proceeded to trial and the client was acquitted, but he said Kohberger's circumstances are fundamentally different because he has already been sentenced.

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"You can't wait until after you're sentenced and see what the consequences of the plea are and then change your plea," Petrovich said. "It's going to be a very, very difficult burden to overcome."

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Petrovich said Kohberger would face two significant hurdles even if a judge allowed him to withdraw his plea.

One would be convincing jurors after previously admitting guilt under oath.

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Even if a judge allowed Kohberger to withdraw his plea, Petrovich said jurors would almost certainly learn he had already admitted guilt, creating another significant obstacle at trial.

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"One thing that's important is that you still can't hide from the jury the fact that you said under oath that you're guilty," Petrovich said. "Even if you withdraw, then you have to explain that ... if you're going to get anywhere with any kind of jury finding."

Petrovich also questioned whether Kohberger's attorneys would have advised him to accept a plea agreement without first reviewing the evidence disclosed during discovery.

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He noted that defense attorneys handling capital cases typically spend years reviewing discovery before recommending whether a client should plead guilty.

"The attorneys on the case ... were intimately familiar with the evidence and the information that was provided to them by law enforcement and prosecution," Petrovich said. "I'm sure they knew all about everything. If they encouraged him or if there was a discussion and a plea was decided on, I'm sure it was for good reason."

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Kohberger's case is not the first involving a notorious killer who later sought to undo a guilty plea.

James Earl Ray pleaded guilty in 1969 to assassinating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to avoid a potential death sentence. Three days after entering his guilty plea, Ray sought to withdraw it, arguing he had been pressured into confessing. He spent the rest of his life trying to undo the plea but died in prison in 1998 without ever receiving the jury trial he sought.

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Serial killer Clifton Bloomfield unsuccessfully sought to withdraw guilty pleas after admitting to five murders in New Mexico to avoid capital punishment. Washington serial killer Robert Lee Yates Jr. also challenged his plea agreement after admitting to murdering 13 women, but courts ultimately rejected both efforts.

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Kohberger's plea agreement spared him from facing a capital trial and ended years of pretrial litigation in one of the country's most closely watched murder prosecutions.

Petrovich said that history, combined with the years of discovery and plea negotiations leading up to Kohberger's agreement, makes the effort to withdraw it especially difficult.

JUAN WILLIAMS: My nephew returned from space with a message America needs

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:45:33 -0400

In one of this year’s most popular movies, "Project Hail Mary," there’s no happy ending — the astronaut never makes it back to Earth.

And in 1969, just days before Apollo 11 landed on the moon, English singer, songwriter and actor David Bowie released a hit song about "Major Tom," an astronaut who floated into deep space, never making it home.

Today I’m writing a happy story. The NASA astronaut in my family just defied both the movie and the song.

Welcome back to planet Earth, Chris Williams.

NASA CHIEF DECLARES AMERICA 'ABSOLUTELY BACK' IN SPACE RACE, SAYS US WILL BEAT CHINA TO THE MOON

The drive to explore new frontiers is a hallmark of American history, from westward expansion to light bulbs, airplanes and personal computers.

This year, the U.S. sent a mission, Artemis II, to rocket around the moon in preparation for a return to the lunar surface for the first time since Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon in July 1969.

And this year, I saw my nephew, the grandson of Panamanian immigrants, talking with his fellow astronauts as they sped by his post on the International Space Station.

A few weeks later, Chris’ dad, my brother, Roger, got a Father’s Day greeting as Chris streamed into Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Even more emotional for me was hearing Roger praise his son for going to space and for growing "beyond every expectation."

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As his uncle, I’ve known Chris since he was a child, wearing a onesie adorned with astronauts and planets. It is hard to get my mind around the idea that he just spent eight months on the International Space Station, completing 3,856 orbits around the Earth at 17,000 miles an hour.

He did spacewalks, floating in space with the American flag on his pressurized spacesuit.

Chris, the highly curious boy, is now a man who successfully returned to Earth on Sunday, July 26.

In a time of national anxiety over war, inflation and polarized politics, Chris is a flesh-and-blood reminder that space travel has the power to inspire awe and renew the American spirit of adventure.

His red, white and blue space adventure is also a powerful retort to the 59% of Americans who told Pew in a May survey ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday that the country’s best days are behind us.

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Despite all the political controversies orbiting around billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, America’s leading moguls investing in space exploration, history tells us to focus on achievement. Henry Ford was politically polarizing, but he also revolutionized manufacturing and transportation.

President John F. Kennedy got it right in the 1960s when he said the U.S. mission to land on the moon was an appropriate national goal because it "served to organize and measure the best of our energies and skill."

That is the optimistic message I got as I watched Chris during his time on the space station, including his two spacewalks.

How can I describe watching NASA TV and seeing the eye-popping sight of the son of my brother and his wife, Roger and Ginger, flying through outer space while hanging by a tether from the space station?

He was outside the space station on his last walk for nearly eight hours, working with fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir to repair robotic arms.

And in January, a fellow American astronaut on the space station lost his ability to speak and was evacuated with other crew members. Chris was left behind. For a month, he was the only American on the space station.

Part of Chris’s mission was to figure out how to keep astronauts healthy on lengthy space trips as the U.S. works to return to the moon and even send astronauts to Mars.

NASA scientists, including Chris, studied how zero gravity affects the brain and even changes balance and the sense of direction. Chris made himself a subject of study to track how long-term space travel changes human eyes and bone density.

Family alarms went off when NASA ordered Chris and other astronauts to evacuate the space station because of a possible air leak. He took shelter in a small spacecraft.

NASA AT 68: AMERICA MUST LEAD ON THE MOON, MARS AND BEYOND — OR CHINA WILL

This was no movie script. It was genuinely a time of high anxiety for his wife and children in Houston, as well as the whole family, during the two hours before NASA gave the word for him to go back inside.

While in space, Chris’ job was also to inspire young Americans to study math and science and become future space explorers. Chris handled the job with ease. He turned the space station into a fun show for students. They marveled at his ability to turn horizontal and float through the space station like Superman. They wanted to know what he had to eat and how he slept.

Young people in Florida wanted to know the difference between doing scientific research on Earth and in space.

The answer could have been intimidating coming from Chris. He has a physics degree from Stanford and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). And he completed training in medical physics at Harvard Medical School.

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But he turned the answer into awe-inspiring fun. He called attention to the Velcro strips on his jumpsuit and on the walls. In zero gravity, he explained, every instrument, every tool, every vial, every sample will just float away if not attached.

One of his teaching tricks was to release a bubble of water and watch it float around before he pretended to be Pac-Man and gobbled it out of the air.

He also attracted viral attention with his photography.

The internet started asking about aliens when he posted photos of the West Coast of India showing green, neon lights piercing a dark sky. They turned out to be LED lights used by fishing fleets to attract squid.

His photos of fireworks exploding during Lunar New Year in February, as the space station passed over China, were praised by other astronauts for their astounding beauty.

To me, Chris’ uniquely American life story is also inspiring.

He is the grandson of Black immigrants from Panama, my parents.

In 1958, his grandmother left Colón, Panama, with three children aboard a freighter carrying bananas to Brooklyn, New York. My father also saw opportunities disappearing for Black Panamanians under the racist dictatorship of Arnulfo Arias. It was also time for my older sister to begin high school.

In New York, Chris’ grandmother worked for minimum wage in a Manhattan dress factory — a sweatshop, as they were commonly called — while my father sent what little money he could from Panama.

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A generation later, our family has been blessed beyond measure. We have celebrated children who became lawyers, physicians, business leaders and successful professionals.

On Father’s Day, Chris took time to beam live from space and celebrate his dad and mom in front of the congregation at Washington, D.C.’s Trinity Episcopal Church.

My tears flowed when his dad praised Chris as a son who grew "beyond every expectation." Roger asked that the powers of the universe "bring you home safely." The congregation wished him well "until we see you again."

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On Sunday, July 26, Chris landed in Kazakhstan with two Russian cosmonauts. A NASA recovery team was there and returned him to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Welcome home, Chris. What an inspiring ride!

Editor's note: This opinion article is adapted from a column that first appeared in The Hill.

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CNN's Dana Bash spars with RFK Jr over vaccine efficacy, demands he 'look into the camera' and push vaccines

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:47:59 -0400

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparred with CNN host Dana Bash over the rise in measles cases in the United States as well as vaccine efficacy on Sunday's "State of the Union."

Though the interview grew heated after Kennedy accused Bash of committing "press malpractice" based on what he said was a failure to challenge public health authorities during the COVID pandemic, Kennedy and Bash's contention continued after Bash asked him about the record number of measles cases and whether he accepts "some responsibility."

"Absolutely not," Kennedy said. "First of all, this is an international outbreak. So, we're doing better at handling it than any country in the world. Mexico has 15 times the amount of measles per capita that we have. Canada has four times the amount of measles. England has two times the amount of measles. Did I cause those measles outbreaks?"

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Bash suggested he bears some responsibility as the "most famous vaccine skeptic on the planet," though Kennedy countered that former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci himself has said in his private diaries that COVID lockdowns were more responsible for children not being vaccinated for measles.

The CNN host, however, continued to demand Kennedy use his position to advocate for people to take the measles vaccine.

"What I want you to do is please use your bully pulpit to, right now, as we're getting close to back to school, say — are you willing to say to parents who have not vaccinated their kids that they should vaccinate their kids for measles because it is safe, and it will help them save their children's lives?" Bash asked.

"I tell people on my websites, my public..." Kennedy began.

"Right now. Look into the camera," Bash interrupted.

RFK JR WAS RIGHT TO CONFRONT CNN OVER FAUCI COVERAGE, SAY NETWORK WAS 'SCARING PEOPLE' DURING COVID-19

"I will say it right now, that people, parents should get their children vaccinated for measles. A measles vaccine is effective. It stops measles in about 97% of the cases. So, people should get vaccinated," Kennedy said.

Bash went on to ask Kennedy about efforts to investigate connections between vaccines and autism. While Kennedy was explaining his position, he stopped to call out Bash for "rolling [her] eyes" at the issue.

"I don't want to have you use our air to say this," Bash said.

Bash then accused Kennedy of promoting vaccine skepticism by suggesting vaccines could cause autism, despite his previous support for the measles and MMR vaccine. Kennedy remarked that Bash appeared "flustered."

"I am frustrated. The reason I'm frustrated is because I… you are the HHS secretary, and you are talking about things that lead to vaccine hesitancy in this country. And it is something that causes problems for people when there is not anything..." Bash said.

RFK JR SAYS FAUCI PRIORITIZED 'GETTING ON TV' OVER PUBLIC HEALTH AFTER REVEALING DIARY RELEASE

"Let me ask you something. Do you see your job as ending vaccine hesitancy, or do you see your job as telling the truth to the American people?" Kennedy asked.

"I see my job as telling the truth," Bash responded.

CNN defended Bash's performance in a statement to Fox News Digital after it aired.

"Dana Bash is a veteran journalist who conducted a newsmaking interview with Secretary Kennedy in which he stated that he supports parents getting their children vaccinated against measles and addressed President Trump’s push for further study into autism and vaccines," a CNN spokesperson said.

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"Asking tough, substantive questions to those in power is the job of every journalist, and Dana did hers incredibly well today. We stand behind Dana, her reporting, and CNN’s overall coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic," the spokesperson added.

CNN stood by the statement when reached for further comment.

Riley Gaines says Target Center staffer tried to shut down her Sophie Cunningham sign

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:32:05 -0400

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was permitted to wear a "Trans kids belong" shirt on the sideline during Sunday’s game against the Indiana Fever.

Fans throughout Target Center held signs supporting their favorite WNBA players.

But when Riley Gaines displayed a small sign reading, "Sophie, thank you — a girl mom," an arena staffer tried to make her put it down.

According to Gaines, the staffer told her the problem was that the sign contained Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s name.

"I checked all the sign policies before I went in there," Gaines told OutKick. "I made sure it was like 11 by 17. That’s the sign size you could have. So, I got a ruler out. You better believe I was measuring it."

TRANS ACTIVISTS HARASS, HURL SLURS AT SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SUPPORTERS BEFORE FEVER GAME IN MINNESOTA

Gaines attended Sunday’s Fever-Lynx game to support Cunningham, who has faced intense criticism since publicly stating that women’s sports should be reserved for women.

Cunningham was loudly booed throughout Indiana’s 108-100 loss in Minneapolis, while Reeve used the game to make her opposing position clear.

ESPN’s broadcast highlighted Reeve’s shirt and encouraged viewers to listen to the Lynx coach’s previous comments on transgender athletes.

Meanwhile, a staffer inside the arena apparently decided Gaines’ simple message of support for Cunningham needed to disappear.

Arena staffer confronts Gaines over sign

Gaines arrived at Target Center around 11:40 a.m. local time, approximately 20 minutes before tipoff.

She had initially planned to attend a rally outside the arena but remained at her hotel after her personal security team advised her that the situation had become too hostile.

Gaines was not present for a confrontation outside that was was described by some social media users as an "assault." Video reviewed by OutKick showed one person ripping a T-shirt from another person’s hands, but did not appear to show anyone being struck or injured.

As Gaines entered the arena, however, she said a protester stationed near the entrance put a bullhorn near her face, sounded it and shouted at her.

Once inside, the response was mixed.

Gaines said some people directed insults and hostile looks toward her, but many others requested photographs, thanked her, offered fist bumps and quietly expressed support for her position. She said some people even brought copies of Gaines' book into the arena and asked her to sign them.

Around halftime, Gaines said families and young girls formed something resembling a photo line near her seat.

"There were so many people stopping me, asking me for photos, ‘Thank you for doing what you’re doing,’ winks and whispers and fist bumps, people buying me drinks," Gaines said.

At some point during the game, she held up her sign.

"I see an arena staffer, someone who’s on the court wearing the all-black official clothing, who points at me and mouths something," Gaines recalled. "I can’t hear him because he’s so far away, but he appeared to say, ‘Put your sign down.’"

At first, Gaines wasn’t sure the staffer was addressing her. Numerous other people in the arena were holding signs, including signs containing the names of players.

The staffer eventually approached her and repeated the instruction.

"He comes over and he says, ‘You have to take your sign down.’ I’m like, ‘No, I don’t. I checked all the sign policies before I went in there,’" Gaines said.

Gaines asked why her sign was prohibited.

"He said, ‘Well, because it has her name on it. It has Sophie’s name on it, so you can’t have that,’" Gaines recalled.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM FANS ALLEGE STORM PLAYERS, EXEC HECKLED GIRLS DURING GAME OVER SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS

The explanation immediately drew objections from other spectators in Gaines’ section.

"My whole section at that point, they were outraged," Gaines said. "They were like, ‘You can’t tell her she can’t have that. There’s a hundred signs right here with people’s names on it. What do you mean she can’t have it?’"

Gaines refused to lower the sign.

"What are you going to do, kick me out?" Gaines recalled thinking. "Go for it."

She said the staffer eventually returned after the game and apologized. Gaines interpreted the apology as a possible indication that he had been directed by someone else to confront her, though she did not know who may have issued that instruction.

Target Center’s policy generally allows small signs

Target Center’s published poster and signage policy does not prohibit signs merely because they contain a player’s name.

The policy states:

"As a general rule, posters/signage under 11 x 17 inches are allowed in Target Center, pending individual tour/promoter approval. All posters/signage must be handheld, may not be mounted on sticks or poles, may not be lit or constructed using lighting elements, may not contain offensive language or graphics and may not prevent other guests from seeing the stage/event."

The venue reserves the right to confiscate signs it considers inappropriate and says the policy may change based on requirements for a particular event. But the policy does not state that a sign is prohibited simply because it includes a player’s name.

Gaines said her sign was handheld, smaller than the maximum dimensions and contained no offensive language or graphics. She also said she made certain it complied with the published size restriction before bringing it to the game.

More importantly, Gaines said the staffer didn't tell her that the sign was oversized, offensive, obstructing another fan’s view or violating an event-specific restriction.

CHERYL REEVE SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM WITH ‘TRANS KIDS BELONG’ SHIRT DURING FEVER-LYNX GAME

He allegedly told her she could not display it because it contained Cunningham’s name.

OutKick contacted the Minnesota Lynx and asked whether an event-specific signage policy was in place, why Gaines was instructed to lower her sign, whether any policy prohibited Cunningham’s name and whether the direction originated with the Lynx, Target Center, arena security or the WNBA.

The Lynx did not respond to our email.

Gaines says private response differed from public hostility

Cunningham was booed when she entered the game and frequently when she touched the basketball.

But Gaines said the public hostility didn't match many of the private interactions she had with fans inside Target Center and said she believes many people inside the arena agreed with Cunningham but didn't feel comfortable expressing that support openly.

"I absolutely think she had more fans there, or people who at least support her sentiment, than are willing to admit," Gaines said.

Cunningham eventually made a 3-pointer late in the third quarter and received a noticeable cheer despite playing for the visiting team.

Gaines viewed that reaction as another sign that the loudest people in the arena didn't necessarily represent everyone in attendance.

Cunningham meets Gaines after game

After the game ended, Cunningham came out to meet Gaines near the tunnel.

Most of the players had already left the court, but Gaines said several young girls remained nearby calling Cunningham’s name.

Cunningham spent approximately 15 minutes with Gaines and posed for a photograph while holding the same sign the arena staffer had attempted to make Gaines lower.

Gaines described Cunningham as completely unshaken by the hostile reception.

According to Gaines, Cunningham said she knew her position was right and remained confident that she could defend it intellectually and morally. Because of that confidence, Cunningham said the reaction did not bother her.

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While the loudest voices inside Target Center spent the afternoon condemning Cunningham, young girls waited near the tunnel chanting her name. Fans quietly approached Gaines to thank her. And Cunningham came back out after the loss to greet them.

The arena allowed Reeve to promote her message from the sideline. Fans were free to boo Cunningham every time she touched the ball. But when Gaines held up a small sign thanking Cunningham, a staffer told her it had to come down because it contained the player’s name.

Gaines refused.

By the end of the afternoon, Cunningham was holding the sign herself.

Sports cartoons of the day

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:08:52 -0400

King Charles makes risky move toward Prince Harry as Prince William 'remains wary': experts

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:35 -0400

Prince Harry's return to the United Kingdom could be King Charles' biggest gamble yet — and Prince William may not like it.

The claim was made by multiple royal experts who spoke to Fox News Digital following reports that the Duke of Sussex is expected to visit the U.K. in September. The Sun reported that the monarch plans to offer his younger son a room at Buckingham Palace in London during his stay.

Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace and Archewell, which oversees the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment.

KING CHARLES SENDS 'DEFIANCE' MESSAGE TO PRINCE WILLIAM WITH BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROOM OFFER TO HARRY: EXPERT

"Prince Harry has been invited to stay at Buckingham Palace to coincide with the annual WellChild Awards, which he attends each year," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "This is perceived as an olive branch by King Charles to slowly rebuild their relationship. However, will Prince Harry accept the invitation? There are murmurs that he has accepted it. Time will tell."

"My sources say staff at Buckingham Palace are against Harry staying," Chard said. "They feel immensely betrayed by Harry's explosive claims against the royal family. Also, my sources say there has been no hint of contrition from the Sussexes. People are not going to forget that they hurled the royal family under the bus, creating lasting damage to the crown. Many wonder why King Charles is appeasing Harry."

The olive branch came after the Sussexes had a rare reunion with Charles during their visit to the U.K. in July. The private meeting, which took place at Charles' country estate, Highgrove House, marked the first time the king had seen his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, since 2022.

WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAM UNLIKELY TO RECONCILE WITH PRINCE HARRY SOON: EXPERT

Harry's recent visit to the U.K. was marked by problems.

After reports that the prince would visit his home country with his family, the British government declined his request for police protection outside royal residences, prompting him to travel alone on July 6.

The Sussexes lost their taxpayer-funded security after they stepped back as senior working royals. Harry was later denied the restoration of that security by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).

The couple previously lived at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London before moving to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor shortly before Archie was born in 2019. After they stepped back as working royals in 2020 and relocated to California, the Sussexes were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage.

People magazine reported that ahead of Harry's trip, his team spent several days exploring ways to make the visit safe through enhanced private security arrangements. Palace sources told the outlet Harry initially declined an invitation to stay at a royal residence before later accepting it.

Harry's spokesperson told the outlet that an offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it. Palace sources, however, disputed that account, saying Harry failed to respond by the deadline and that his later acceptance came only after arrangements could no longer be made.

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A source close to the Sussexes told the outlet that, behind the scenes, the drama surrounding the visit was "quite stressful."

"What was billed as a big homecoming ... turned into a nightmare," Russell Myers, author of "William & Catherine," told the outlet. "It was further evidence of the fractiousness of Harry's relationship with the institution."

Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, reported that, according to sources, "not even the Prince and Princess of Wales were made aware" that a meeting would take place on July 10 between the Sussexes and the king.

She also reported that Charles, "who has sworn his youngest son and daughter-in-law to secrecy," insisted that nothing about their July 10 meeting be leaked. Only palace aides were permitted to confirm the reunion had taken place after the Sussexes left Highgrove House without being seen.

Royal experts told Fox News Digital that while Charles is open to reconciling with his younger son and reconnecting with his California-based grandchildren, not everyone is welcoming the Sussexes with open arms.

Prince William is said to remain wary of his estranged brother, many of them shared. According to the experts, the brothers have not spoken since 2022, when their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, died.

"King Charles, from all indications and all feedback from courtiers, obviously wants to maintain an open dialogue and ongoing relationship with his 'dear boy,'" British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "Prince William, meanwhile, remains wary and won't want Harry at the palace. However, it's better that Harry stays at Buckingham Palace than in Windsor, which is too close to William and his family."

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If Charles hopes to bring Harry back into the royal fold, he'll first need the blessing of the future king, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said.

"The attitude of the Waleses, since they are the monarchy's future, is pivotal," Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital. "And with good reason, they don't trust the Sussexes. King Charles' approach could prove incendiary."

Still, Chard believes Charles appears willing to risk fresh royal tensions in pursuit of something he's long wanted: reconciliation with Harry.

"Don't get me wrong, reconciliation within the British royal family would be good as it makes the monarchy stronger," Chard said. "However, why invite Harry to Buckingham Palace, the iconic royal residence that's the administrative heart of the monarchy? Harry is no longer a working royal and shouldn't be offered a room at Buckingham Palace."

"I guess the optics of inviting Harry to Buckingham Palace are seen as a goodwill gesture, easing tensions with small steps forward, peace-wise," Chard said. "It also skates over the endless divide within the family."

Chard previously told Fox News Digital that William is known for being stubborn behind palace doors and isn't one to forgive easily.

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"William believes the monarchy must be seen to do the right thing, even when it's painful. From what I understand, he felt his father didn't handle that firmly enough. He also believes in protecting it by drawing hard lines. But he's not the king yet."

During part of their U.K. visit, the Sussexes stayed at Althorp, Princess Diana's ancestral home, where they were hosted by Harry's uncle, Earl Charles Spencer. It was there that Archie and Lilibet learned more about their grandmother, who died when Harry was 12, according to People.

Meghan later shared photos of Harry and their children at the estate on Instagram.

Fordwich previously told Fox News Digital that William was likely "livid" over the photos.

"Not only is Prince William likely to be livid regarding the commercialization of Althorp in such a tacky, tasteless media post, but it'll fuel his disgust, so he [would] thwart any major re-entry," she said. "Likewise, Camilla, courtiers, palace aides, security officials and other institutional gatekeepers who are duty-bound to protect the monarchy will all do their utmost to thwart Meghan and Harry's attempts."

Trump v. Smithsonian: A timeline of how the White House fight over 'woke' history unfolded

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:26 -0400

President Donald Trump's effort to root out what his administration calls "woke" ideology at the Smithsonian has grown into one of the most extensive White House reviews of the institution in decades.

The Smithsonian oversees 21 museums, the National Zoo and nearly 157 million objects and specimens while receiving more than $1 billion annually in federal funding outside of private-side dollars.

The administration's campaign has placed the taxpayer-supported institution at the center of a broader debate over patriotism, historical interpretation and the role of federally funded cultural institutions amid a growing divide over how people view and retell America's story.

GOP LAWMAKER DEMANDS ANSWERS AFTER SMITHSONIAN CHIEF URGED MOVING BEYOND 'AMERICA FIRST MENTALITY'

Over the past 16 months, the administration has examined museum exhibits, educational programming, internal records and leadership statements, issued multiple document requests, interviewed curators and conducted on-site museum walkthroughs.

The effort culminated in a 162-page White House report recommending sweeping reforms and announcing new executive actions aimed at implementing those recommendations.

Here's a timeline of the major developments.

March 27, 2025: Trump launches effort to root out 'woke' ideology at the Smithsonian

Trump signed an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" two months into his second term. The order argues that federal cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian, have promoted "divisive" ideological narratives.

The executive action directs the Trump administration to restore what it describes as a more patriotic presentation of American history. And it tasks the White House Domestic Policy Council and Vice President JD Vance, in his role as a Smithsonian Regent, with reviewing Smithsonian exhibits and programs.

Spring–Summer 2025: White House launches Smithsonian investigation

Following Trump's executive order, the White House Domestic Policy Council kicked-off an investigation of the Smithsonian, focusing primarily on the National Museum of American History.

Officials reviewed exhibits, educational materials, strategic plans, leadership speeches, museum programming and public statements. During that review, the council documented examples they argue prioritize divisive ideological narratives over a so-called patriotic telling of American history.

Aug. 12, 2025: White House formally puts Smithsonian on notice

White House officials sent Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch a letter formally launching the review ordered by Trump.

The letter directs the institution to turn over exhibition plans, educational materials, internal policies and other records while outlining a review of eight Smithsonian museums to ensure exhibits "celebrate American exceptionalism" and remove what the administration calls divisive narratives.

It also sets deadlines for document production, curator interviews and on-site reviews, with museums instructed to begin revising public-facing content within 120 days.

Late 2025: White House says Smithsonian isn't adequately celebrating America's founding

The White House criticizes the museum for holding no special Independence Day programming in 2025 despite being open on July 4, discontinuing its traditional Flag Day ceremonies, and planning 250th anniversary exhibits and events.

According to the administration, those 250 installations emphasize flaws of the United States while giving insufficient attention to the Founders, the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.

Dec. 18, 2025: White House says Smithsonian isn't cooperating with its review

The White House tells Smithsonian Secretary Bunch in a letter that the institution has failed to provide most of the records requested during its review.

Among other things, the review requested exhibition plans, curatorial documents and governance materials be turned over.

At this time, the administration gives the Smithsonian until Jan. 13, 2026, to produce the requested records. It also reminds the institution that federal funding must be used in a manner consistent with Trump's "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order.

Early 2026: White House conducts on-site Smithsonian investigation

White House investigators complete on-site walkthroughs of Smithsonian museums. During the visits, they reviewed exhibits, educational materials, digital content and internal planning documents as well as interviewed museum staff as part of the administration's review.

SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY PROMOTES 'EXTREME POLITICAL ACTIVISM,' WH REPORT ALLEGES

Investigators found during those visits exhibits that they argue emphasized restorative history, decolonization, immigration activism, DEI initiatives and social justice. Meanwhile, it claimed that the institution was downplaying America's Founders, the nation's achievements and patriotic themes.

The report ultimately concludes the Smithsonian project has undergone a significant shift away from its original mission, arguing exhibits increasingly emphasize social justice activism and ideological narratives rather than focus on America's founding principles and national achievements.

May 14, 2026: White House says Smithsonian's flagship America 250 exhibit misses the mark

The museum debuts its signature exhibition commemorating America's 250th anniversary, featuring 250 objects from its collection, including Thomas Jefferson's writing desk, George Washington's uniform and the Star-Spangled Banner.

The White House said just two months before the country's 250th celebration that the exhibition repackages existing displays rather than creating a new founding-era exhibit. It also criticized the installation for failing to meaningfully celebrate America's Founders, the Declaration of Independence or the American Revolution during the nation's 250th birthday.

The Trump administration also said the exhibit's promotional materials and programming downplayed patriotic themes and national symbols.

July 2026: White House delivers verdict on Smithsonian review

The White House Domestic Policy Council releases its 162-page "Saving America's Story" report, concluding that the National Museum of American History has undergone "ideological capture."

The report recommends removing what it describes as political activism from museum exhibits and restoring displays that emphasize America's founding principles, national achievements and patriotic history. It says the findings stem from the Smithsonian review ordered by Trump's March 2025 executive order.

The expansive report included images of exhibits, images of exhibits and placards, as well as curators and leaders of the museum.

It spent much of the report focusing on how the museum classified and portrayed illegal migration in its exhibits.

July 24, 2026: Trump orders federal agencies to carry out Smithsonian reforms

Hours after the report's release, Trump signs the "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution" executive order, directing the Interior Department, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), General Services Administrator (GSA) and the White House Domestic Policy Council to use available authorities to encourage the Smithsonian to address the report's findings.

TRUMP ORDERS SIGNS OUTSIDE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM AMID ROW OVER ITS DEPICTION OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Trump's order also instructs the National Park Service (NPS) to install temporary signs outside the National Museum of American History directing visitors to the report and describing the administration's concerns with the museum's presentation of American history.

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The administration says its effort is intended to restore a more patriotic presentation of American history at the Smithsonian. The institution, meanwhile, has long said its mission is to preserve and present the nation's history through scholarship, research and public education, setting the stage for continued debate over how America's story should be told.

The Smithsonian did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

First showdown in race for Lindsey Graham's Senate seat puts GOP hopefuls to the test

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:18 -0400

Candidates eyeing the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s seat of power in the Senate will get a chance to define themselves on the debate stage Monday.

Untested fresh blood, lawmakers eager to ascend and candidates who have failed to launch are set to share the same stage and will get an equal opportunity to convince South Carolinians that they have what it takes to take over for Graham.

While nearly 10 candidates have jumped into the race for the suddenly vacant seat, politicos in South Carolina contend that only a few are true contenders and have the most to prove during the televised sales pitch to voters as campaign materials darken voters' doorsteps.

TRUMP ENDORSEMENT FAILS TO CLEAR GOP FIELD AS FORMER GOVERNOR JOINS SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE

"This debate is the opportunity for South Carolinians to have a moment to hear from these candidates directly," Dave Wilson, a South Carolina-based political consultant, told Fox News Digital.

"The mail is already coming in," he continued. "The emails are already going out, but this is a time to see whether the candidates can handle the job in what is in essence the only job interview that we will see ahead of the primary."

The key candidates to watch are Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who was appointed to take her brother’s seat and has since received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Behind her are Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Russell Fry, R-S.C., and former Gov. Mark Sanford.

MACE SNUBS TRUMP'S PREFERRED SENATE CANDIDATE, BACKS RALPH NORMAN INSTEAD

And that same group, along with Graham's former primary opponent Mark Lynch, have all qualified for the debate stage under the South Carolina GOP's criteria.

Wilson contended that both Norman and Sanford have statewide name recognition — Norman unsuccessfully ran for the GOP nomination for governor this year and Sanford has been a known entity in South Carolina politics for nearly two decades.

Graham could ride on the wave of her brother’s last name, but she doesn’t have the record to push like the others in the race. While she’ll be making a pitch about who she is, Fry could stand to gain the most among the other competitors.

TRUMP PUSHES LINDSEY GRAHAM'S SISTER TO RUN FOR US SENATE AFTER SHE GETS APPOINTMENT TO FINISH OUT TERM

That’s because, unlike Norman, Sanford and Graham, he doesn’t have the same statewide campaign infrastructure and name recognition, despite being handpicked by Trump to run for Congress years ago.

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"I think Russell Fry needs this debate more than any other person on that stage right now because, while he has been a staunch Trump supporter, he is the one person who could benefit the most from a really strong debate performance," Wilson said. "Because he has to do what it takes to establish himself statewide and demonstrate that what he’s done for the 7th Congressional District, he can do for the entire state."

Lindsay Clancy jurors visit crime scene in Karen Read-style move to test timeline: Retired judge

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:10 -0400

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Jurors in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial retraced her ex-husband’s route Friday before walking through the Massachusetts home where the couple’s three children were killed, a court-supervised visit a retired Massachusetts judge said could help the panel understand the timeline and setting at the center of the case.

The move was reminiscent of another high-profile Massachusetts murder trial that recently captured headlines, when Karen Read was acquitted of the top charge during her 2025 retrial.

In Clancy's case, the 18-member jury panel was driven past ThreeV restaurant in Plymouth and the CVS pharmacy in Kingston that Patrick Clancy visited on Jan. 24, 2023. Jurors were then escorted in groups of six through the family’s former home in Duxbury during a roughly 40-minute visit.

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS ‘BIG SPIRAL’ AS EXPERT SAYS ONE PART ‘SCARED ME’ IN MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

They also saw the basement where Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, were found, as well as the yard beneath the second-story window where Lindsay Clancy was discovered seriously injured after attempting suicide. The fall left the woman paralyzed and in a wheelchair.

Jack Lu, who served 16 years as a Massachusetts Superior Court judge and five years as a Boston Municipal Court judge, said that, in his experience, a view is expected in a Massachusetts homicide trial, particularly a case involving multiple deaths.

"The reality is, on a homicide case, they’re always, always going to do a view," Lu, now a Boston College law professor, told Fox News Digital.

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS PILL USE AS EXPERT SAYS EVIDENCE COULD SHAPE MURDER TRIAL

Lu said the clearest benefit may be helping jurors assess how long Patrick was away from the home and understand the locations discussed throughout testimony.

"They’re going to dissect the amount of time involved in the husband’s trip to CVS," Lu said, adding that the visit could help jurors understand "what kind of time that Ms. Clancy had" after Patrick left.

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Still, Lu cautioned against assuming the view necessarily favored either side or would become decisive.

KAREN READ SAYS SHE GETS FREE MEALS AND DISCOUNTS EVERYWHERE AFTER NOT GUILTY VERDICT

"The view is perhaps not obviously crucial to this case," he said. "It gives them context."

WATCH: Jurors retrace Patrick Clancy’s errands before finding slain children

A similar procedure was used during Read’s 2025 retrial in Massachusetts, where she was charged with killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe.

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Jurors were bussed to 34 Fairview Road in Canton, where O’Keefe was found, and viewed the property and Read’s Lexus. Prosecutors and defense attorneys directed jurors’ attention to different details from the case.

WATCH: Jurors in Karen Read's trial visit scene of John O'Keefe's death

In Clancy's case, prosecutors allege she intentionally sent Patrick on the errands to get him out of the house before strangling the children.

SEND US A TIP

Her attorneys do not dispute that she killed her children but argue she lacked criminal responsibility because she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis.

After returning to Plymouth Superior Court on Friday, jurors heard emotional testimony from emergency room doctors who treated Dawson and Callan.

GOT A TIP?

Dr. Mark Tenerowicz testified that hospital staff tried for about 40 minutes to revive Dawson, who arrived without a pulse and was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at about 7:28 p.m.

Dr. Benjamin Kaufman said medical workers restored Callan’s pulse, but the infant remained unable to breathe independently.

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"At no point did he exhibit any brain function," Kaufman testified.

During testimony, Clancy covered her face and appeared to sob and shake during the doctors’ testimony. Lu described the emotional weight of the proceedings as "exceptional," even among heavily publicized trials.

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"Even among high-profile cases, the emotionalism of this case is extraordinary," he said, adding that Massachusetts judges are trained to privately address jurors after a verdict about processing the emotional toll of what they went through.

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Judge William Sullivan dismissed the panel on Friday afternoon, saying the trial was "well on schedule, if not ahead." Testimony is scheduled to resume Monday at 9 a.m.

What to order instead: Lettuce-free meals at McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell and more

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:08 -0400

As the restaurant industry navigates the ongoing fallout from the cyclospora outbreak, many menu items at fast-food chains don't contain shredded lettuce — the ingredient the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked to the outbreak.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite known to cause cyclosporiasis, the most common symptom of which is diarrhea. The FDA said it traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.

A McDonald's standard hamburger does not contain lettuce, though the Big Mac, McChicken and deluxe burgers do.

IS LETTUCE STILL SAFE TO EAT AMID TACO BELL ILLNESS PROBE? DOCTORS ANSWER

The standard hamburger contains a beef patty, ketchup, mustard, chopped onions and dill pickle slices on a bun.

Other McDonald's items that don't contain lettuce include the Filet-O-Fish, a breaded and fried fish filet served with tartar sauce and a slice of American cheese on a bun.

The Double Cheeseburger, Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Chicken McNuggets are other lettuce-free options.

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Only a few menu items at KFC contain lettuce. They include the chicken wrap and the chain's chicken sandwiches.

KFC's signature items, including the original recipe for fried chicken, chicken tenders, nuggets and the Famous Bowl (mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, cheese and gravy), are lettuce-free.

Several items on Chick-fil-A's menu lack lettuce. The chain's signature chicken sandwich only contains a pickle, as does the spicy version.

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Chick-fil-A Nuggets, which can be ordered fried or grilled, as well as the Chick-n-Strips and Chicken Biscuits, are also all lettuce-free.

Though many burgers include lettuce at Wendy's, items that don't come with them include the Baconator, Son of Baconator and the chain's chili.

The Baconator is made with two beef patties, six strips of bacon, two slices of American cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise on a toasted bun. The Son of Baconator is a smaller version of the signature burger and contains four pieces of bacon.

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At Burger King, many of the burgers and sandwiches include lettuce, but the nuggets, Chicken Fries and Rodeo Burger come without it. Chicken Fries are breaded and fried chicken strips in the shape of a french fry. The Rodeo Burger is a beef patty on a bun topped with onion rings and barbecue sauce.

Taco Bell has been offering limited-time promotions on items that do not contain shredded lettuce, including the Mexican Pizza, the Enchirito and regular Nacho Fries.

An Enchirito is made with a warm flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, refried beans and diced onions and is smothered in red sauce and melted shredded cheddar cheese.

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Other lettuce-free options at Taco Bell include the Bean Burrito, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Cheesy Roll Up, Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito and the Quesadilla (cheese, chicken and steak).

Fox News Digital reached out to Chick-fil-A, Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's for comment.

JASON CHAFFETZ: Democrats desperately need Nancy Pelosi to take charge

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:33 -0400

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is no Nancy Pelosi.

The 85-year-old former House speaker from California is retiring, and the Democratic Party is baffled about its future. "Expand the tent" is its current trajectory, but at what cost? Turn it over to some who are not even registered Democrats?

Democrats lack message discipline. DNC fundraising is anemic. Traditional party gatekeepers have been sidelined as the flow of money and energy has been rerouted through the less regulated and less transparent NGO sector. Gone are the days when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer could direct the flow of donor dollars away from the radical fringe.

DEBT-RIDDEN DEMOCRATS TAP A SURPRISING ASSET AS COLLATERAL FOR $15M LOAN

Say what you will about Pelosi’s iron grip on power. At least she understood how to cloak her party’s radicalism. She didn’t dance to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tune, refusing to grant the committee assignments that would elevate AOC’s fringe views. With her influence on the wane, Democrats at every level of government are having a messaging free-for-all.

The anti-American messaging of the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA) has infiltrated the Democratic Party, potentially forcing every candidate to answer uncomfortable questions. They’ll have to choose between alienating their base or alienating their swing voters.

The DSA platform seeks to replace, not just reform, the key pillars of American stability and prosperity, explicitly rejecting the Constitution. DSA seeks to abolish the Senate, the Electoral College, the presidency, the Supreme Court and other key features of federalism that check the balance of power.

DEM REP HENRY CUELLAR REJECTS DSA AGENDA, SAYS SOCIALISTS ARE TRYING TO 'USE' DEMOCRATIC PARTY

These are positions that would make any 1990-era Democrat shudder. Democrats now have to own DSA demands to eliminate the Department of War, leaving America defenseless. They demand we open our borders to unvetted and unlimited migration and pay for the healthcare costs of any global citizen who wishes to come to America.

It’s not just the federal races that are at risk for Democrats. Even at the state level, governors like Minnesota’s Tim Walz and California’s Gavin Newsom have incentivized unimaginable levels of fraud that they now seek to conceal.

At the local level, Sanders-endorsed New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani attempted to meet with America’s Iranian enemies during wartime. Mamdani calls out Israel while refusing to acknowledge the crimes of Hamas. He represents a wing of the party that hates America, hates law and order and hates punishment.

Who among Democrats can rein in the party’s excesses? Former Vice President Kamala Harris? Hardly. Her unsuccessful billion-dollar presidential campaign is likely a key source of the current donor fatigue. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has had to spend so much political capital cleaning up that mess that he has little to spare for 2026 races.

House and Senate Minority Leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Schumer do not wield the power that Pelosi once did. Their roles are precarious enough without offending the socialist wing of their party. AOC, though wildly popular with the far-left segment of the base, hasn’t shown the leadership skill to call out her own party when the waters get rough.

Poor candidate vetting continues to plague Democrats. The rape allegations against Sanders-endorsed Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner led to a repeat of President Joe Biden’s replacement primary process in which Democrats placed a candidate on the ballot without a single primary vote.

Without a unified message, a respected leader who can speak the truth internally, or a motivated donor base, Democrats will have only themselves to blame for their current chaotic state with no apparent way to abandon ship.

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The Democrats/socialists/communists claim to be a big tent party, but that’s a lame excuse and explanation to the electorate who wants to know where they stand on specific issues. Those are questions no candidate in the Democratic Party truly wants to answer.

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Expose the radical truth and they lose the general public. Dismiss the socialists/communists, and they lose their base.

What they really want is for Nancy Pelosi to raise the money, tell them what to do and say, and deny a place for the radicals among them. But today, the radicals far outnumber the remnants of yesterday’s Democratic Party.

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Our enemies found a weakness in essential technology. We must fix it … fast

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:23 -0400

In July, Iran attempted to make good on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. Yet the strait had already ceased functioning as reliable commercial infrastructure long before. Since the conflict started, more than 1,100 vessels recorded GPS and AIS interference in a single day, ships appeared on tracking systems at airports or deep inside Iranian territory, and ship crews navigated one of the world’s busiest waterways by radar alone because satellite navigation could no longer be trusted. Iran did more than threaten a choke point. It demonstrated what a determined adversary can do to the satellite infrastructure the modern world has taken for granted.

America depends on a second, invisible choke point: the Global Positioning System. GPS timestamps every credit card swipe and equity trade, synchronizes the power grid and cellular networks, and guides combines through fields, container ships into port and infantry through contested terrain.

That faint signal – engineered in the 1970s in a different time when our enemies weren't as savvy – now carries the weight of the entire global economy and our military edge. That world is gone. Global aviation logged roughly 430,000 jamming and spoofing incidents in 2024, a sharp 62% increase in a single year. A basic jammer can be built from off-the-shelf parts for a few hundred dollars.

GEN. JACK KEANE WARNS AGAINST TRUSTING IRAN ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ

I know what reliable navigation means in combat. As a Ranger, I never thought about GPS in combat. It located my team, guided the aircraft above us, and synchronized fires without ever announcing itself. We took it for granted. Today’s service members enjoy no such luxury. We are sending American forces into contested spaces with a vulnerable system designed half a century ago.

No incremental upgrade can fix GPS. Its weakness is physics, not engineering oversight. A satellite in medium Earth orbit broadcasting at limited power will always produce a faint signal at the receiver. A nearby jammer will always overpower it. Military M-Code offers marginal improvements but does not change the fundamental math.

China has drawn the obvious conclusion. The Chinese Communist Party is rapidly expanding next-generation navigation satellites, including low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations that operate closer to Earth, broadcast far stronger signals and are designed with electronic warfare in mind.

Beijing aims to dominate the navigation layer of the 21st-century economy. Congress has noted this shift in unusually blunt terms, stating in last year’s defense authorization that the United States is falling behind China in satellite navigation.

The solution is not another slow government program. It is emerging from American commercial industry. U.S. companies have designed and launched navigation satellites in domestic factories using private capital. These systems now operate in LEO, delivering signals up to 100 times stronger than GPS.

They resist spoofing by design, provide centimeter-level accuracy, and work with the GPS receivers already installed in millions of aircraft, vehicles, vessels and weapons. A software update is often all it takes to transition equipment America already owns to navigation that can survive attacks.

The Space Force understands this. Earlier this year, it canceled plans for a government-owned "Resilient GPS (R-GPS)" constellation in favor of leveraging commercial services. The fiscal year 2027 defense bill now advancing in the House would require the Air Force to demonstrate capabilities with commercial LEO providers – testing operation without GPS, resistance to jamming and spoofing, and rapid restoration if satellites are lost.

The demonstration is a good start, but it is not enough. Three concrete steps would turn congressional direction into deployed capability: first, fund what Congress has already directed. The 2027 defense appropriations bill should create a dedicated budget line for the commercial LEO demonstration and follow-on services. This investment would cost a fraction of a single GPS III satellite – and far less than the $1 billion once earmarked for R-GPS.

Second, procure operational services, not more studies. Commercial providers are already placing production satellites into orbit with private capital. The Department of Defense should contract for resilient navigation as a service – just as it does for launch services – and pay for proven performance in orbit.

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Third, set resilience standards for critical infrastructure. Merchant crews navigating the Strait of Hormuz by radar this spring used receivers roughly 15 years out of date. Farmers, utility operators, and airline pilots face the same exposure. Federal regulators should establish minimum resilience requirements that legacy GPS can no longer meet on its own.

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In 1973, the United States wagered that a constellation of navigation satellites would transform warfare and the global economy. That wager succeeded beyond any planner’s dreams, and it taught our adversaries precisely what to hold at risk. Iran disrupted a strait the world assumed would remain open. Our more capable adversaries intend to disrupt a signal America assumes will always be overhead.

The next era of navigation will belong to the first nation to focus on fielding resilient capabilities. American industry has already placed them in orbit. Whether the U.S. government moves at the speed of relevance will determine if America retains the decisive advantage it has held for 50 years – or cedes it to another power.

Trump is winning every battle in Iran—and risking the war that matters

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:01 -0400

Five months into the Iran war, America is winning almost every battle. The harder question is whether we are winning the war.

No one should minimize what the U.S. military has accomplished. American air and naval power have inflicted extraordinary damage on Iran's military infrastructure. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has lost command centers, missile launchers, drone facilities, air defenses, coastal installations, logistics hubs, and key personnel. Our servicemen and women have once again demonstrated unmatched professionalism, precision, and courage.

Those are genuine tactical successes.

I'VE STUDIED MILITARY STRATEGY. TRUMP NOW FACES IRAN'S OLDEST BATTLEFIELD TRICK

But military history teaches a hard lesson: tactical success does not necessarily produce strategic success.

That distinction matters because the strategic center of gravity in this conflict is shifting. In the opening weeks, the focus was rightly on degrading Iran's military and nuclear capabilities. Today, the consequences increasingly extend beyond the battlefield to American credibility at home and abroad.

Iran has shown greater resilience than many anticipated, dispersing forces, hardening underground facilities, shifting to mobile launchers, and continuing to launch missiles and drones despite sustained bombing. Determined adversaries often adapt faster than expected when fighting for regime survival.

IRAN REGIME CHANGE TALK RESURFACES AS TRUMP SAYS TEHRAN 'WANTS TO MEET' AMID US STRIKES

Washington’s campaign appears to assume that destroying Iran’s senior leadership could cause the system to collapse. But the regime’s real source of endurance may run deeper, rooted in a revolutionary Islamist ideology reinforced by the clerical establishment, the IRGC, security organs, patronage networks, and a culture of martyrdom. Leaders can be killed and command posts destroyed, but bombs cannot extinguish an ideology that treats suffering as validation. This doesn't mean American intelligence failed. It may mean Washington's theory of victory placed too much faith in decapitation and physical destruction, when ideologically committed regimes often absorb punishment that planners assume will compel surrender. The real question is whether repeated battlefield success is producing the political outcomes Washington seeks.

That answer is becoming less clear.

Each day brings another successful strike, another destroyed missile site, another IRGC facility reduced to rubble. Yet Iran keeps fighting. The danger isn't that America cannot destroy targets. It is appearing trapped in a cycle of retaliation without a defined political end state.

TRUMP REVEALS THE LINE IRAN HAS TO CROSS FOR US TO RESTART OFFENSIVE MILITARY CAMPAIGN

For President Trump, converting military success into political results is now the central challenge.

Like it or not, President Trump's credibility, and increasingly America's credibility, is becoming the strategic center of gravity. Every warning, every red line, every promise of retaliation is now evaluated not only by Tehran but also by Beijing, Moscow, Pyongyang, Jerusalem, Riyadh, Brussels, and voters here at home.

Credibility is one of America's most valuable strategic assets. It is earned when military action consistently advances defined political objectives. It is weakened when adversaries conclude they can absorb punishment while waiting for Washington's patience, or its public support, to erode.

That domestic support deserves careful attention.

An AP-NORC survey found that roughly two-thirds of Americans believe the war has not been worth fighting, while only about one-third believe it has. Support has softened even among Republicans. Americans increasingly doubt the campaign has a clear destination and worry about its duration, cost, and expansion.

In a democracy, that matters.

Public opinion should never dictate military strategy, but neither can elected leaders indefinitely sustain a costly conflict if Americans lose confidence in its objectives. If these trends continue, Iran could become a consequential midterm issue, especially if voters link it to rising energy costs, strained resources, or distraction from border security, inflation, and China.

America's allies are watching just as closely.

Israel focuses on immediate security. Gulf Arab partners want energy infrastructure and Hormuz navigation protected. NATO allies want assurance that Washington can manage multiple crises without weakening deterrence elsewhere. Indo-Pacific allies are asking whether a war consuming American attention and resources changes Washington's long-term commitment to Asia.

That same question is being studied most carefully in Beijing.

China is analyzing American logistics, missile defense, intelligence, precision strike capability, naval operations, industrial capacity, public opinion, and political endurance, watching how quickly the United States replenishes munitions and how democratic governments sustain support during prolonged conflict.

China is learning about America's strengths.

It is also searching for America's limits.

Beijing may conclude that America can destroy fixed targets but cannot easily convert firepower into political submission, and that dispersed missiles, hardened facilities, and prolonged conflict can strain American inventories and erode domestic consensus. China could apply those lessons in a confrontation over Taiwan.

Russia and North Korea are conducting similar assessments, but China has the greatest stake. Every month Washington remains heavily engaged in the Middle East is another month Beijing gains time to strengthen its own position in the Indo-Pacific. That should concern every American because China, not Iran, poses the greatest long-term challenge to American security and prosperity.

None of this argues for American retreat.

Quite the opposite.

President Trump now has an opportunity to restore strategic momentum by matching military power with a more clearly defined political strategy.

First, define a limited, achievable end state: deny Iran a nuclear-weapons capability, stop attacks on American forces and regional shipping, and make clear that renewed nuclear-weapons activity or attacks on U.S. interests trigger predictable consequences. Regime change should not be the unstated standard for victory.

Second, replace open-ended retaliation with clear deterrence. Washington should state plainly what triggers U.S. strikes, what would produce a pause, and what could open the door to negotiations.

Third, continue denying Iran access to its hardened nuclear infrastructure without committing large American ground forces. Rather than attempt an extraordinarily risky seizure of sites such as Pickaxe Mountain or Fordow, repeatedly deny access by collapsing entrances, cratering routes, maintaining surveillance, and striking renewed excavation.

Fourth, broaden the coalition. Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open should not remain primarily an American responsibility. Gulf partners, NATO allies, and other maritime nations share a vital interest in protecting Hormuz and should contribute more visibly. The burden, and the credibility, should be shared.

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Finally, restore strategic focus. Iran is a dangerous regional power, but China remains America's principal long-term competitor. Washington must contain Tehran without letting the Middle East consume the resources and attention the Indo-Pacific requires.

American military power remains second to none. But bombs can destroy launchers, command centers, and tunnel entrances; they cannot alone compel a revolutionary regime to abandon its purpose.

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President Trump’s task is not to bomb Iran until it becomes something it is not. It is to define an achievable objective, deny Tehran its most dangerous capabilities, share the burden with allies, and restore America’s strategic focus.

Military victories are remembered. History judges presidents by whether those victories produce political results, strengthen American credibility, and leave the nation safer.

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JASON CHAFFETZ: Democrats desperately need Nancy Pelosi to take charge

Our enemies found a weakness in essential technology. We must fix it … fast

Trump is winning every battle in Iran—and risking the war that matters